Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Well, not technically the first time I hit 3 miles. I did it the Friday before the 5k in January, then I did it on the actual day of the 5k in January.

The difference with this time was that it started my first week of upping the ante. The first time I wasn't preparing for something that was happening tomorrow. For the next 9.5 weeks, each week I will be running a mile longer than I did the week before. Each week, I will be accomplishing something I have never done before.

So today, I reflect. And wonder.

When I started in November, I underestimated how hard running really was. I figured my body would be sore some days, but I never thought that it would be a struggle to finish a mere 3 miles. Screw that, I never thought it would be a struggle to finish 1 mile. I am having such a hard time establishing a routine and a schedule. My self control has been tested so much.

Through all of that hardship though, I am really proud of myself. I may not be where I thought I would be, but I'm still getting on that treadmill 3 times a week. There was only one time I questioned finishing my run, and that was when someone else questioned it. Even then, it was never an option for me to not finish what I was tasked to do, and for that, I praise God for His strength. I'm praying for continued strength and perseverance.

I do wonder when it will click for me though. I get so excited these days talking about running, and I'm delving into the world of healthy eating again. But when I get on that treadmill, it still hasn't clicked. It's still a countdown for me from the second I start running until I can finally stop.

Another bump in the schedule is my upcoming weekend in New Jersey. I've been really bad about keeping up on my running when I'm there, so I need to get into the right frame of mind NOW.

Thank you to those who have inspired me to keep doing this endeavor. Kind words have never meant so much.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

#3 - I felt so accomplished for what I have done today - church, grocery shopping, laundry, gym...and then I caught a glimpse of my Christmas Tree in the window's reflection and realized that as much as I get done, I will never fully be accomplished until my Christmas decorations are taken down. I know it's almost March. Don't judge.

#4 - Bought a whole lot of fiber and grain based food at the grocery store today. Also bought some extra toilet paper.

#5 - I'm over cold weather. I'm pale, I'm cold and I'm over it.

#6 - Addressing my "Feeling Low" blog from a few days ago: Am I feeling better? Yes. Was it PMS? No. Running and eating better really is a lifestyle change, but when your current lifestyle is completely hectic and all over the place, how do you change what you don't understand? I'm feeling a lot better after having some meaningful conversations and getting a haircut to spruce up my outside. Thank you all for your prayers!

Part of my Saturday included heading to the Delaware Running Company on Main Street in Newark to figure out why I was getting a blister on my right foot every time I got even close to 2 miles. It's amazing how much more goes into this running thing than I originally thought. My problem?

#1 - Cheap socks. White sport socks are white sport socks, right?? Apparently not. There are specific socks that pull away water from your foot, thereby reducing the amount of irritation to your skin from the rubbing against the sock.

Here's the best way I can explain it to those with smaller legs: Remember when you wore a pair of shorts to a water park when you were younger than went on the Flume ride? You got soaked and had a blast but for the remainder of the day, your wet shorts would ride up as you walked and would start rubbing against your inner thigh because they were wet, causing some issues to your skin. The best way to explain it to those with thighs like mine: It's that inner thigh skin feeling you get anytime you put on a pair of shorts above your knee and sweat at all. If your foot gets wet, your skin will rub against your socks causing irritation and eventually blisters.

#2 - Wrong size shoes. My normal shoe size is a 9. However, not only are sneakers often made slightly smaller than a normal shoe, but your feet swell as you run. My size 9 ASICS were great running shoes and were good for how I run (I roll my foot in. That's what the guy at the store told me. Again, extremely technical for running). Unfortunately, they were getting too tight on my feet and were probably the main cause of the blister.

So I got new shoes which are now the picture at the bottom of my page!! Those who know me well know that I love me a new pair of shoes.

My suggestion for people who are thinking of starting to run: Go to a running store with employees who love to run and aren't just looking to get a sale. Have them look at your feet. And then invest in the right pair of shoes before you begin. They will cost more money than the Champions at Payless, which I have owned in the past, but they will get you through your runs on a much better foot. If you get cheap shoes, you will end up having to buy another pair sooner anyway and the expense will even out, but your poor feet will not be happy with you.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

I skipped cross-training yesterday to work on my mental strength. I spent the evening cooking dinner for my family; watching my nephew, Jacob, be the smartest 2 year old ever; and cuddling with my nephew, Joshua. By the time I got home last night, I felt reinvigorated and ready to run.

Didn't last long. Today was a low that I haven't felt for a long time. I felt vulnerable and defeated when I woke up and trying to find pants to wear to work that didn't feel snug just sent me over the edge. I guess we all have those days, but I'm ready for this one to be over.

I'm not feeling good and my emotions are all over the place but I still got to the gym. I guess that's a plus. I also did the whole 2 miles. Another plus. Unfortunately, I hit the automatic stop button by accident at mile 1.46 so I have no idea what my time was. I did get back on for another half a mile though to complete the 2.

Tomorrow's my official day off for the week and I'm supposed to go out to happy hour with some girls from work. Another mental strength day. One of my best friends (who is an avid runner i.e. crazy) gave me a good outline to use for a menu, so I may hit the grocery store tomorrow night as well.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

I started my official training schedule for the 15k yesterday. It's a 10 week schedule that requires 6 workouts a week - 1 stretching and strengthening day, 2 cross-train days, and 3 running days. I'm feeling motivated right now and very accountable to the schedule, though I'm not going to lie and say I'm not intimidated. My concerns were three-fold:

1) If I want to run farther than the schedule says on any specific day, should I?

2) How do I keep from gaining weight since I'm always so hungry after a workout?

3) 6 workouts a week? Really? And my life happens when?

I'll start with #3. I am NOT a morning person. Those who know me and have to endure my fake tolerance of the world every morning while I quietly mutter mean things under my breath understand how much I am not a morning person. Which basically means there is no way I will be up at 5:30 to go to the gym. Don't judge me. I'm making a grown-up decision, and there's zero way that will become my life, at least right now.

My workouts so far have all been after work, which makes it very difficult to have a life. I work until between 5:30 and 6:30 on most nights and own a home which requires laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, trash, grocery shopping, etc. to be done by yours truly. I won't complain too long because, as I was recently reminded, everybody works. However, having a life right now has become something of an unreachable idea. I want to spend time with my family (especially my two nephews who have taught me a rare, amazing type of love), time with my friends, time with my boyfriend, time for myself, time to relax, time to travel, etc., etc., etc. I feel like if I choose to work out, I can only have time for one or two other things and not really allow for everything that makes me happy.

I have to find a happy medium. Working out during lunch on cross-training days? Only do 4 or 5 workouts a week? This has to be worked on. Suggestions are very much accepted, so please let me know if you have any ideas that could help.

Back to #1, thank God for people who have already run Broad Street. Megan told me today that she doesn't think I should run more than what the schedule tells me to, because I'll really regret it once I get to the high mile days. That makes complete sense and I will go with that thought.

#3 is a hard topic for me in the social and emotional realm. #2 is my biggest mental, physical, emotional, everything else obstacle to get over. I started running because I wanted to lose weight. I don't think I'm fat, but I'm close to 30 and it's not as easy to keep the weight off anymore. But man am I hungry. I've always been a dieter and not an exerciser, so my increased appetite is foreign to me and I'm not adjusting to it well. I have changed my diet over the past week or two and feel a little better, so hopefully I can keep the diet up with the exercise.

So away we go. Yesterday was a stretching and strengthening day. I had no idea how to make my way around the weights at the gym, so I did a bunch of random leg machines, 10 minutes on the elliptical and a bunch of abs workout. I was left sore, so I guess it worked.

Today was a 2 mile day, which I completed. Tomorrow is cross-training, after I go to my sister's house for dinner and some family time. Then another run on Thursday. Then Friday is a day off.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

At some point, I will lay it all out on this blog and explain why this Road to the Broad Street Run is so important to me. There are years of body and self esteem issues that have stood in my way. But I'll get to that later on. Check back around April 26 when I turn 29 and will be 5 days away from my 15k.

For now, I will say this: I looked at a picture of myself from a friend's birthday party....and I didn't instantly think about how fat I looked. I actually pulled up the picture to see how bad I looked and I impressed myself.

God has a plan for all of us, and I'm not sure where this path is going. But for the first time in a long time, I looked at a picture of myself, I didn't hate my body and I felt pretty. (Disclaimer: I have an amazing boyfriend who makes me feel beautiful on a daily basis. That does not include when I actually have to dress myself in the morning or look at pictures. Pictures are from the devil.)

If you have a solid self awareness of yourself, negative self esteem doesn't have a chance. Yeah for running!!!!

I'm getting a blister on my foot so I'm hoping to get to the Delaware Running Store tomorrow to check my shoes. That was just one reason I lasted only 2.25 miles, which was better than before, but still not as far as I should have run. The other reasons include the fact that I had a ton to do tonight, including watch Glee, watch Biggest Loser, and take my Christmas decorations down.

I accomplished the first two things. The last was only half completed before I was distracted by more television, a glass of champagne, and a Smart Ones dessert. Soooooo, I didn't finish the evening as I expected. But I still ran farther than I did earlier this week, but was distracted by the other things I had to do.

I'll be back in the gym on Thursday. By Monday I will be on to 3 miles and beyond!

Monday, February 7, 2011

The machine I was on today didn't give me a workout overview, so I'm not exactly sure what my 2 mile time was, but that was not my focus. Today, I finished a mile in under 12 minutes. Do you know what that means???? I was able to jog/run the entire mile - without walking.

Awesome: Finishing a mile in under 12 minutes for the first time.

Not Awesome: Eating a large salad (think lettuce, corn, black beans, onion, feta cheese) an hour before working out.

I finished that first mile like a champ. Wearing my newly acquired "Respect the Logo" Phillies tee (thanks babe), I was invincible, unstoppable! I was going to get in at least 4 miles. I seriously felt like Rocky, wanting to throw my fists in the air and cheering myself on.

And then the salad hit. I hadn't felt very well before I got there, but as soon as I started running, I felt better. At about 1.35 miles, I felt that sick feeling coming back in and by 1.5, I had to take my speed down a little more to keep from becoming a permanent conversation piece at Planet Fitness for years to come (i.e. puking all over my treadmill).

Unfortunately, I was only able to do the 2 miles because of my dinner choice. However, today was a day of accomplishments:

1) I ate a well balanced diet today and did not feel stuffed or bloated by the time I left work.

2) I drank 48 ounces of water today. That is a HUGE feat for me.

3) I finished a mile in under 12 minutes (and my knee didn't hurt for one second!).

4) I finished my evening with 300 sit-ups.

(I'm not sure who I've become, but somehow all of that overshadowed a long day of work, a long Board of Trustees meeting, a headache, a traffic ticket via camera (thought I'd make the yellow), etc.)

I'm a little late with this post, but wanted to make sure my times were documented. My knee felt a little better on Wednesday, so I tried to get back onto the treadmill. It was more workable than Monday, but still not in top shape. I had to walk a lot and not run. This was not exciting for me.

I've been eating horribly and a lot more than I normally do, so it's been affecting my mood and my waist. That, of course, may be a figment of my imagination but it doesn't help that I can't move around because of my knee. Booooo!!!!!